Author
Topic: I think I used this right, another trip to Sprawl Mart. (Read 18128 times)

So, I arrived at my local Sprawl Mart Sunday evening. It was teeming with people as usual. I found a decent parking space (surprise!) and I pull in. No sooner had I put my car in park then there is a man at my door. I lower the window a crack.

Me: Can I help you?Man: Pull through.Me: Excuse Me?Man: The space in front of you is open, pull through.

I realize that this man has stopped his car behind me and wants me to pull me car straight through she he can park in this spot. First of all, I like parking with my trunk on the aisle, it is much easier to load groceries in and Second of all, this man is beyond rude at the moment.

Me: No. If you want to drive around and take that spot then you can. Man: Just pull through.Me: No. (picking up cell) And I am now calling the cops.

He quickly walked back to his car and drove off. By that time someone else had taken the space in front of me and I have no idea where this man ended up parking. He drove off, I went inside and did my shopping. I was shaking like a leaf but also angry that he thought it was ok to pull that stunt.

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"Oh people can come up with statistics to prove anything. 14% of people know that" - Homer Simpson

That is just weird. Dude could have just pulled around and parked to begin with; his car would have been in the same basic position - facing the row, with the trunk toward the aisle. Getting out and approaching you to ask (tell) you to move ... why? It makes no sense. I think i would have done the same thing you did.

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It's alright, man. I'm only bleeding, man. Stay hungry, stay free, and do the best you can. ~Gaslight Anthem

Oh, I didn't mean your threat to call the cops was wrong - I just have a funny sense of humour!

I would have done exactly the same thing, as a woman in a car alone with a man right outside my window who was demanding something and did not seem to be taking no for an answer. I would have been scared.

IMO he was rude to ask. No need to approach a stranger and ask them to park differently. And I think threatening to call the cops was fine. Seriously it took that to get him to drop it and go away? Crazy.

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Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.Walt Whitman

I think it's silly of him to go to the effort of stopping, getting out of his car, and walking over to ask you to do that. It would be faster for him just to drive around! Plus he could be blocking other vehicles whilst leaving his car momentarily unattended. I think he was rude, and you handled it well. To be nice you *could* have moved, but you shouldn't have to - it's less convenient for you for a number of valid reasons.

IMO he was rude to ask. No need to approach a stranger and ask them to park differently. And I think threatening to call the cops was fine. Seriously it took that to get him to drop it and go away? Crazy.

I don't think it was rude of him to ask. Because some people would not mind pulling forward. However he did not ask politely, he demanded it. And he refused to take now for an answer. Those are the things that make it rude.

I know, threatening to call the cops? But, I just did not know what else to say to him. If I opened my door it would have hit him. He was thisclose to my door the whole time.

No, I don't think it's out of line. If he was making you uncomfortable or preventing you from leaving your vehicle, you may have been justified in calling. It's all about the context of the situation.

A while ago, there was a story from a poster who was followed to her car from the grocery, the man tried to open her door after she was in the drivers seat and demanded to see her military themed t-shirt. (He gave some story about serving in the military and didn't recognize the insignia on her shirt. When she refused, he became irate and tried to stand behind her car so she wouldn't leave. Now, on its face, 'There's a man standing outside my car, demanding to see my t-shirt.' sounds like a silly reason to call the police. But his behavior was bizarre and made the OP feel threatened. In that case, calling 911 would have been a good choice.

If nothing else, the threat of calling was enough to make him leave you alone.

I know, threatening to call the cops? But, I just did not know what else to say to him. If I opened my door it would have hit him. He was thisclose to my door the whole time.

No, I don't think it's out of line. If he was making you uncomfortable or preventing you from leaving your vehicle, you may have been justified in calling. It's all about the context of the situation.

A while ago, there was a story from a poster who was followed to her car from the grocery, the man tried to open her door after she was in the drivers seat and demanded to see her military themed t-shirt. (He gave some story about serving in the military and didn't recognize the insignia on her shirt. When she refused, he became irate and tried to stand behind her car so she wouldn't leave. Now, on its face, 'There's a man standing outside my car, demanding to see my t-shirt.' sounds like a silly reason to call the police. But his behavior was bizarre and made the OP feel threatened. In that case, calling 911 would have been a good choice.

If nothing else, the threat of calling was enough to make him leave you alone.

Two completely different scenarios. In yours, the man was being threatening; in the OP's, he was being pushy. However, her saying she would call the cops worked and she didn't actually have to.